Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lowell, MA
VS
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
🏆 Rancho Cucamonga leads 17 of 23 categories
Lowell
Massachusetts
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,008
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
114,737
Rancho Cucamonga
California
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$105,534 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
174,696 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lowell, MA
Pros
Homes cost $295k less ($362,800 vs $657,400)
Rent averages $718/mo less ($1,466 vs $2,184)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Rancho Cucamonga by $32,526/yr
Violent crime (532.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Snowy winters — about 59" of snow per year
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Pros
45% less violent crime than Lowell
Households earn $32,526 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 34°F
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Lowell
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $657,400
Higher rents — median is $2,184/mo
Longer commutes — 33.0 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Lowell
Median Home Value
$295k less
$362,800 vs $657,400
Rancho Cucamonga
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 107.9 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Rancho Cucamonga
Median Income
$32,526
$105,534 vs $73,008/yr
Rancho Cucamonga
Violent Crime
45% lower
293.7 vs 532.5 per 100k
Rancho Cucamonga
Summer Heat
9.1°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lowell, MA | Rancho Cucamonga, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 107.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $362,800⚠ High ✓ Lower | $657,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,466⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,184⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,008 | $105,534 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 10.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 116⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 86 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.3% | 37.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.8% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lowell | Alta Loma Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.0°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.5" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,737 | 174,696 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 63.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lowell's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Rancho Cucamonga's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Rancho Cucamonga is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Rancho Cucamonga leads 17 of 23 categories. Lowell wins 6 and Rancho Cucamonga wins 17. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Lowell to Rancho Cucamonga or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($362,800 vs $657,400 median home), income ($73,008 vs $105,534), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lowell, MA and Rancho Cucamonga, CA are about 2,540 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.